Lo Should Be Transit Commission Chairman: CRERAR
Project management consists of 12 disciplines, although any list you see will likely show only 11 because “ethics” is usually not included among them.
That being said, we begin all projects with the three basic components, scope, time and cost. The scope of the LRT project was defined long before ex-mayor Jim Watson was elected, although he likely chose the artwork for the various stations.
As we all recall, Watson repeatedly told residents of the city that the project would be “on-time and on-budget”. I doubt if he ever consulted with the project management team on the validity of this statement. This put the project team under enormous pressure because I understand that, even though he always appeared cheery, Watson was domineering.
In effect Watson was running the project and was not listening to those who were telling him what he promised couldn’t be done. As a result, many decisions were likely made under duress, bad decisions as it turns out. So, thank you Jim Watson, please take a final bow. Add to that the fact that council’s transit chairman under Watson was Allan Hubley whose CV offers nothing to indicate he was in any way qualified for that position. He was probably one of Watson’s best head nodders at the time.
So too the new chairman Glen Gower whose CV does not indicate any knowledge in the area of transportation, although he does have some experience in risk management, another component of project management. The best thing city council can do at this point is hang tough, hope Barrhaven East Councillor Wilson Lo runs again next year and appoint him chairman of transit commission. In his first term on city council, Lo has proven himself to be one of the most logical thinkers within The Group of 24.
If city manager Wendy Stephanson is smart, she will not choose a new general manager of OC Transpo until Lo is on board and she can work side-by-side with him to begin getting Ottawa’s most costly embarrassment back in line.
Howard Crerar is a project manager and has worked in the software industry for three decades.
For You:
Line 1: Lipstick On A Pig: WHOPPER WATCH
Army Run To Disrupt Sunday Traffic
Correct The E-Bus Mistake: PATTON
LRT Project Management Is Short Of Poor: BENN
Terry Fox Tunnel Has Life Of It Own: MULVIHILL
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Let’s give Wendy Stephanson some credit. She likely has an 30-second elevator speech worth of in-depth knowledge concerning OC Transpo which is probably standard when you consider how many other things she’s expected to know. Hopefully, she’d admit that she’s not a subject matter expert in many areas. Wilson Lo likely knows a number of senior management people at OC Transpo and, working together, they can formulate the questions that need to be asked when seeking a new head for the city’s transit system. At this point it’s imperative that a knowledgeable permanent replacement for Renee Amilcar is chosen for the job. What would be especially nice is the prospect of saving taxpayers the cost of a golden handshake if a dismissal of Amilcar’s replacement is required..
Stephanson is where she is, because of where she was on the totem pole. Troy Charter, now OC’s interim general manager is in a similar position. As qualified as he may be, Ottawa’s ” we’ve always done it that way” attitude will prevail and with Stephanson as an example nothing will change. Lo is smart enough to know that, but can the city wait until after the next election to appoint a new transpo GM.
Wendy Stephenson was next up at bat and that’s the way it works for senior management positions at Ottawa City Hall.
It matters not your qualifications or if anyone applying is more worthy of the role and responsibilities.
Change on this front is desperately needed …